Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-08-27
from their capital in this direc-

1Oufneyeu from thelr ctpi,di III WIS "iHNN-
ton.
Everyone must be his own Columbus
and explore for himself path among
the rugged hills of Xochicalco, through
fields thickly strewn with volcanic debris
and past the open shafts Of many an
abandoned mine, which show that silver
has once been found here-and may be
again when Yankee enterprise and capital
come to dig deeper than the lazy Span
iards.
As one slowly climbs up the terraced
slopes of the great hill, the intense heat
which has tortured him below gradually
gives place TO cooling breezes, and glori-
GUS prospect is unfolded-chiefiy of bar
rem hills and plains, divided everywhere
with deep barraneas, and two lovely lakes
TO the southwark Great stones are scat
tered all around, most OF them exactly
seven feet long by three feet broad; and
all the blocks of porphyry which inclose
TIE building and perhaps encased the en-
tire cerro, were brought from a great dis
lance and up this steep hight-doubtless
by hand, or rather by back. The stones
of the crowning structure are laid upon
each other without cement, and kept in
place by their own weight alone, and as
most of them are deliberately Sculptured,
there is no Question that the boSs0 riiiere
were cut after the pyramid was erected.
| wish | could give you picture of
some of the strange caryings-grotesqu
warriors in battle array, beasts whose
Likeness never existed on earth, twisted
serpents and unguessable symbols, all
wrought with utmost care by
UNKNOWN woRKKEN
Many centuries ago Standing apart. as
it does, far from every other group in
Mexico, this ruin Is little visited-but
really deserves the closer attention because
of its isolated position and unique decora-
rations. About thirty years ago cele-
brated antiquarian wrote of it as follows:
"Who the builders of this pyramid
were, no one can tell. There is no tradi-
ton of them, or of this temple, for it has
outlasted both history and memory No
one who examines the figures with which it
is coated can fail to connect the designs with
the people who dwelt and worshiped in
the temples and palaces of distant Uxmal
and Palenque."
By far the best description have seen
was that by Fred Ober, the graphic writer
and indefatigable antiquarian who, in his
excellent book called Travels in Mexico"
says: After We had visited and examined
the massive structure of the summit, my
self and the missionary crept over the hill
by narrow path, through the thick brush,
and found black hole, leading under.
vaults was partially explored, by order of
the Government, nearly fifty years ago
but the superstitions of the Indians who
believed them haunted by the spirits of
their ancestors) prevented thorough ex-
animation.
awe investigated the chambers as far
as We could, by the aid of a suffering
candle, and were lost in wonder at their
hight and extent. The old explorers men
ton a 'cupola' of cut stones, gradually
diminishing in size as they neared the top,
and forming beautiful mosaic, with an
aperture through the roof of the cavern
which was supposed to lead to the temple
above. This We found in the center of the
main saloon (which is 90 feet long,, but it
was Invested of its wrought stone Instead.
we found that the walls and floor were
covered with very hard and smooth &C.
ment.
Although these ccypts may have some
connection with the temples on the summit
of the hill, yet the two caves which we en-
tered were in cerrito little hill at a short
distance from that supporting FL Castillo.
Chill and damp were these corridors,
though outside was the terrible Leaf of a
Mexican midsummer noon.
SCORPIONS AND sERPENTs
Are said to lurk here-at least, that is the
excuse the Indians gave for not wishing to
explore the dangerous passage--but we
saw none"
In the journey back to Cuernavaca we
went by a slightly different route. but
found little of interest except a solitary In
dian village whose denizens seemed to
shun lis, and an ancient bridge spanning a
deep ravine by a single arch, and Just
wide enough, without an inch to spare,
for our horses to walk across. Tradition as
serts that this bridge was made by the same
ancient tribes who builded FL Castillo, and
that it was used by them on their frequent
pilgrimages to and from the vale of Ana
huac. 1t is by no means improbable, as
the arch is not that of the present day,
but nearly approaching those seen in the
Maya ruins Of Yucatan. Great age is in
Dictated in every feature of this most sim
gular bridge, and its Workmanship is en-
tirely different from the Aztec, Spanish, or
modern Mexican
FANNIE B. WARD.